Coaches

Lou Manganiello

Head Coach & Program Director

"Coach Lou" is the Founder of AquaKids. He serves as the Head Coach of the AK Sharks Swimming Team and the Program Director of the AquaKids Aquatic Programs. With over 25 years of experience coaching, teaching, and operating swimming programs, Coach Lou has developed AquaKids from its Swim School beginning into the complete swimming program it is today. Coach Lou has had numerous Junior National, Senior National, U.S. Open, and Olympic Trial Qualifiers, in addition to guiding swimmers to become U.S. Open Champions.

Before founding AquaKids, Coach Lou served as an Assistant with the University of South Florida's collegiate swim team, helping the team to a Division II National Championship in 1985. Coach Lou came back to Miami in 1987 to bring Stingray Aquatics from 60 kids to over 275 swimmers and a fighting force in the Florida Gold Coast. As a swimmer, Coach Lou was ranked top 20 in the world in 1979 and 1980 in the 100 and 200 meter Backstrokes while he swam in Texas (Longhorn Aquatics) under the lengendary Eddie Reese. He has also competed in the World University Games where he was a member of the gold medal 400 Medley relay. Currently Coach Lou is also the Head Swimming Coach of Westminster Christian School, where he runs the AquaKids program.

Danielle Gullage

Assistant Coach

"Coach Danielle" is no stranger to competitive swimming. As an age group swimmer in the Florida Gold Coast, she held numerous Association Records. Coach Danielle has been coaching in Coach Lou's programs for the last 15 years. In charge of the Dusky I SHARKS group, she is responsible in the initial development of our swimmers advancing from our Continuing Education Lesson Program after the initial Swim Team Blue SHARKS Group. She also one of main Lesson and Continuing Education Coaches.